2017 UK Open finalist Gerwyn Price will take on former BDO number one James Wilson in the opening afternoon of this year’s event next month, which will also see five-time world champion and two-time UK Open winner Raymond van Barneveld in action.

128 players will compete from March 2-4 at the Butlins Minehead Resort, with eight stages in play simultaneously during the early stages of the competition. The 96 professionals will be joined by 32 Rileys Amateur Qualifiers, who could be pitted against the world’s biggest names due to the open-draw format.

One of the stand-out ties of the opening session will see last year’s finalist Gerwyn Price meet former BDO number one James Wilson in the second-round. ‘The Iceman’ finished 33rd on the UK Open Order of Merit, therefore just misses out on automatic entry to the third-round.

Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld will also be in action as he takes on debutant Mike Norton. The Dutchman won the tournament dubbed ‘The FA Cup of Darts’ back in 2007 and 2008, and was beaten in a thrilling quarter-final clash by eventual winner Peter Wright in last year’s tournament.

The first-round, which features the 32 amateur qualifiers and players ranked 65th-96th on the Order of Merit, will see nine-time major finalist Terry Jenkins play 2010 Players Championship Finals winner Paul Nicholson.

Former UK Open finalists Andy Hamilton and Mark Walsh take on William O’Connor and Alex Roy respectively, as three-time world champion John Part prepares to take on an amateur qualifier from Wolverhampton, as he makes his first Minehead appearance since 2015.

The top 32 players from the UK Open Order of Merit enter the fray in round-three on Friday evening, and they include defending champion Peter Wright, world number one Michael van Gerwen and world champion Rob Cross.

Former champions Adrian Lewis and James Wade also enter the competition at the third-round stage, alongside Premier League stars Gary Anderson, Michael Smith, Simon Whitlock and Daryl Gurney. The draw for the third-round will be made following the conclusion of Friday afternoon’s session.